Governors of the North-East states have raised concerns over what they described as looming humanitarian and economic challenges in the zone.
The governors warned of impending flood disasters and a possible food crisis if urgent interventions are not made.
The governors, under the aegis of the North-East Governors’ Forum, sounded the alarm in a communiqué issued at the end of their 12th meeting held in Jalingo, Taraba State, on Saturday.
Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Zulum, said credible forecasts indicated that the region could face severe flooding in the coming months.
“The Forum took into cognizance the forecast of credible agencies on climate risk and the impending flood disaster in the subregion. We call for proactive measures to confront the flood and robust sensitisation of settlers along the flood plains,” the communiqué read.
The governors urged the Federal Government and the North-East Development Commission to urgently reconstruct damaged infrastructure, especially bridges washed away by previous floods.
On agriculture, the governors expressed concern over the rising cost of farm inputs, warning that the development could negatively affect yields in the coming season.
They said, “Forum decries the high cost of agricultural inputs which might have direct negative consequences on farm outputs next year. To avert an impending food crisis, it calls for more subsidies to farmers and robust preparation for dry season farming.”
The governors announced that the North-East Trade Fair would hold in Maiduguri, Borno State, in December 2025, in partnership with the North-East Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.
Energy also featured on the agenda as the Forum resolved to accelerate efforts to tackle energy poverty.
“Forum recommits to subduing energy poverty by tasking the Committee on Power and Energy in the subregion to come up with an integrated subregional Power Masterplan,” the communique added.
